In a foam over leather? It can’t possibly be chic, even for middle-aged doubters, says ALICE HARE – as these leading royals make clear

I have a pair of chocolate brown leather leggings that I like to wear in the winter with a big sweater – long enough to cover my bum and tops of my thighs – and boots.

But every time I wear these leggings, my dad is amazed.

My sisters always ask, ‘where’s the Harley Davidson?’, but my father’s confusion stems from a deeply held belief among people his age that they can’t seem to change: leather = dominatrix.

But as I’m trying to prove, and a bunch of senior royals, it seems, leather can be chic – impossible.

Queen Letizia is wearing one of her many leather skirts in Madrid this year. She finds a balance between leather and fabric to perfect the look

Queen Máxima blocked the color perfectly. A leather burgundy culotte is combined with a blouse with bows that immediately makes the outfit more feminine

Queen Letizia of Spain is a big fan of leather midi skirts and culottes, and possibly the most elegant wearer of royal leather.

Sophie proved that even us dusty Brits can get in on the action by stepping out in a leather midi skirt to the Brooklands Museum in Surrey two days ago.

And this is a timeless trend: leather, worn correctly, looks as good on the over-50s as it does on the 20-somethings.

Sophie is 58, Letizia 51. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 52, loves her burgundy leather culottes. Queen Rania of Jordan, 53, regularly wears a black skirt.

Modernists like to say that “fashion rules are dead.” Leather is undoubtedly the exception.

It is possible to make black leather skirts and pants look good, but for the newcomer to leather, burgundy, forest green or chocolate brown are easier to style without venturing into Pretty Woman (pre-makeover) territory.

Queen Rania appears to finish reading Letizia’s fashion book during a visit to Madrid in 2019

Queen Mathilde in a burgundy leather skirt and matching silk blouse at a conference in Belgium in 2021

Princess Diana was ahead of her time in a leather pencil skirt at a Eurythmics concert in 1986

If the leather skirt has a pencil shape or the pants are almost form-fitting, it’s better to pair with a looser top (a silk bow shirt is always a safe bet, as the royals know) to balance the proportions.

Culottes and A-line midi skirts are again safer for those new to leather than more tailored options. Sleek leather, especially black, combined with a sleek top half will never look elegant. Silk or cashmere drapes beautifully and provides a nice contrast of textures – leather from head to toe is for bikers only.

Princess Diana was of course ahead of her time by wearing a leather pencil skirt to a Eurhythmics concert at Wembley Arena in 1986. And if she dared to wear leather in 1986, I’m determined my leather leggings will feel at home in 2023 – even on a farm in Norfolk.